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cnbc.com
Debris from aerial interception strikes Oracle building in Dubai, UAE says
The damage to Oracle's building comes after Iran warned it would target U.S. tech companies operating in the Middle East.
cnbc.com
U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran, one crew member rescued, MS NOW reports
The U.S. is searching for the second member of the F-15 aircraft's crew, whose whereabouts are unknown, MS NOW reported, citing two U.S. officials.
theguardian.com
New North Sea drilling would barely reduce UK gas imports at all, data shows
Exclusive: research finds Jackdaw field would provide only about 2% of current demand, and Rosebank only 1%Opening major new fields in the North Sea would make almost no difference to the UK’s reliance on gas imports, research has shown.The Jackdaw field, one of the largest unexploited gasfields in the North Sea, would displace only 2% of the UK’s current imports of gas, which would leave the UK still almost entirely dependent on supplies from Norway and a few other sources. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK food halls buck downbeat hospitality trend: ‘In this impossible climate, they shine hope’
Amid closures and soaring costs, food halls are booming as a cheaper, lower-risk alternative to traditional restaurantsBeeps chirp through the cavernous Cambridge Street Collective on a busy weekday, as buzzers alert the lunch crowd to collect their sushi tacos, rendang curries or Palestinian chicken musakhan.The Sheffield food hall is Europe’s largest purpose-built venue of its kind, at 20,000 sq ft, and arrived in 2024 as part of a major redevelopment of the city, which has brought in businesses including HSBC. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Biometric checks stalled again for cross-Channel travellers
Fears of Easter chaos over scaling up of new EU border system are eased, with no facial IDs for Eurotunnel and Eurostar passengersPassengers crossing the Channel from the UK to France will not face new biometric checks in the coming weeks, despite an imminent deadline for the complete implementation of the EU’s entry-exit system (EES), ports say.Airlines and airports across Europe have feared chaos over the Easter holidays. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Asian travelers seek respite in other options as Middle East travel plans stay grounded
Ticket prices across airlines in Asia increase in the midst of Iran War tensions, Asian travelers look elsewhere to relax
theguardian.com
Oats, sardines and crisps: emergency foods to stockpile – and why you should share them
In turbulent times, experts recommend building up a store of food if possible – focusing on long-life, no-cook itemsPeople should have an emergency stockpile of food in their homes in case conflicts, extreme weather or cyber-attacks shut down supplies, leading UK experts have told the Guardian.In an ever more turbulent world, they say it is essential to choose long-life items that can be eaten without cooking – think tinned beans, vegetables and fish, rice crackers, and oats that can be soaked. But it is also important to choose items you actually like to eat, and some treats such as chocolate or crisps to keep your spirits up. You will also need water – lots of it – not just to drink but for washing too. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Over the top and fun:’ TGI Fridays boss insists time is right for a UK revival
Ray Blanchette admits he may be a ‘little crazy’ as he outlines chain’s hopes of building 1,000 outlets globally“I am a little crazy maybe,” admits Ray Blanchette, a former TGI Fridays kitchen manager who has taken on the revival of the bar-restaurant chain’s UK business in the face of blasting industry headwinds.Blanchette’s family investment firm, Sugarloaf, rescued the Dallas-based parent business from administration in 2025. He then went on to pick up its UK arm in January after the local franchisee got into difficulties, retaining 33 UK restaurants but closing 16, with the loss of 456 jobs. Continue reading...
bbc.com
State pension age starts rising to 67 - here's how much you get and when
The age at which people can start receiving the state pension is going up in stages over the next two years.
theguardian.com
‘India is going to face a food crisis’: Farmers panic over fertiliser shortages amid Iran war
Ripple effects of oil and fertiliser shortage felt by farmers in India and Sri Lanka despite governments saying there is enough stock to go roundGurvinder Singh never thought the war in Iran would touch his quiet corner of Punjab.Yet looking out over his smallholding, where he alternates between wheat and rice crops in the state known as India’s breadbasket, the 52-year-old farmer can barely think of anything else. His anxiety over a conflict playing out thousands of miles away is crippling as he fears what will come of this season’s rice crop. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
OpenAI's Fidji Simo takes medical leave, announces leadership changes
OpenAI President Greg Brockman will oversee product in Simo's absence.
cnbc.com
'Chasing vibes' — OpenAI's M&A strategy gets more confusing with TBPN purchase
Over 10 months after shelling out an eye-popping $6.4 billion for Jony Ive's nascent devices startup, OpenAI announced it's buying media company TBPN.
bbc.com
M&S boss calls for more action on crime and abuse of staff
Thinus Keeve's comments come days after an M&S store was targeted during disorder in south London.
bbc.com
French-owned ship passes through Strait of Hormuz
It appears to be the first ship owned by a major European firm to go through the strait since the conflict began.
theguardian.com
Reese’s chocolate heir accuses Hershey of altering recipes: ‘It wasn’t real peanut butter’
Grandson of Reese’s cups inventor claims Hershey faked a pledge to switch back to original chocolate recipesThe grandson of HB Reese, the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, has accused the chocolate giant Hershey of faking a pledge to investors to switch back the recipes of its popular products – including KitKat – to the original milk and dark chocolate ones.A confectionary-focused dust-up between Brad Reese and the $42bn Pennsylvania-based company began in February when Reese, 70, accused the company of “quietly replacing” the ingredients – or “architecture” – in his grandfather’s invention with cheaper “compound coatings” and “peanut-butter-style crèmes”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on the US and Europe: the UK tried to be a bridge, but Trump likes to burn them | Editorial
The president’s outbursts on allies and Nato were further confirmation that Europe cannot wait to bolster security – and Britain must play its part“She had no more surprises for him; the unexpected in her behaviour was the only thing to expect,” Henry James wrote in his novel Daisy Miller. Leaders dealing with Donald Trump surely recognise the sentiment. James’s character was a young American out of her depth in Europe, falling victim to prejudices. Mr Trump is a real-world problem, and this time, Europe is battered by the prejudices and vengefulness of the American.This week alone the US president has publicly mocked the British prime minister and armed forces (as weak), the French president (over his marriage), told allies to get their own oil – having set the Middle East on fire – and said leaving Nato was “beyond reconsideration”. Mr Trump’s wishful thinking has hit reality in Iran, where the war that he and Benjamin Netanyahu began will not be easily ended. His resulting frustration, concern about domestic political repercussions and desire to distract the public are matched by vindictiveness towards allies who rightly refused to join in.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How we won a refund from a cash-grabbing care home firm | Letters
One reader shares their experience of fighting to receive the money they were owed, while Roy Grimwood offers insight into the disastrous effects of a flawed economic modelAs witness to the cash-grabbing nature of these businesses (The great care home cash grab: how private equity turned vulnerable elderly people into human ATMs, 28 March), I would like to draw your attention to a specific practice: that of trying to deny grieving families the balance of fees owed to them when a resident dies in the home with full weeks already paid for.I had already heard of this from someone else, so I was on the alert when the same thing happened to us. We were told that it was not their “policy to refund” when, policy or not, a careful reading of the contract showed that the money was owed. We appealed, and were successful. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Billionaire fortunes have reached all-time highs under Trump. So has the movement to tax them
Residents in at least 10 states are organizing campaigns to tax wealth in order to fund schools and other social servicesKaren Sanchez likes to meet new people at trivia nights or concerts at her local brewery at the edge of Los Angeles county. Her opening line: “How do you feel about taxing the rich?”Sanchez is volunteering to collect signatures to put a contentious “billionaire tax” on California’s November ballot, sponsored by her union, SEIU – United Healthcare Workers West. The proposal would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on the state’s 200-plus billionaires to cover lost federal funding for California hospitals and emergency services and to fund public education and food assistance programs. She says most people have been eager to sign on – and want to see more of it. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Lord Haskins obituary
Europhile farmer and businessman whose Northern Foods supplied ready meals to Marks & Spencer, Tesco and WaitroseChris Haskins, Lord Haskins, was perhaps the most prominent business supporter of Tony Blair’s New Labour project, brought in to Downing Street at the start of his administration to advise on cutting red tape, and later as “rural tsar” in the wake of the devastating foot and mouth outbreak of 2001. What Blair would praise as Haskins’s invaluable “no nonsense approach” was honed during 40 years building up Northern Foods into Britain’s leading food manufacturer. There he was credited with developing the chilled food techniques that have made possible today’s enormous growth in ready meals and convenience foods.Haskins, who has died aged 88, combined the acumen of an entrepreneur and enlightened business manager with a socialist conscience. Alongside it went a compulsion to tell the truth as he saw it, which could sometimes get him into difficulties. He distanced himself from the Labour government after what he called the “disgrace” of anti-terrorist legislation in the early 2000s, and the Iraq war, and in a typically unguarded New Statesman interview, he said of Blair: “He wants everyone to love him.” And of David Blunkett, the former home secretary: “You have to watch him like a hawk.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
It’s the silver lining from this terrible age of Donald Trump: he is pushing Britain closer to the EU | Gaby Hinsliff
Ten years after the Brexit vote, Trump’s disdain and insults are fuelling the belief that the UK should renew ties with EuropeGoing anywhere nice this summer?No, me neither, judging by the warning from the Ryanair boss, Michael O’Leary, that a global shortage of jet fuel caused by the Iran war may soon lead to cancelled flights. Suddenly a week in Cornwall looks a safer bet, though even that will be a stretch for some families as the cost of long car journeys heads through the roof. When the representatives of more than 40 countries held talks in London earlier this week to discuss unblocking the strait of Hormuz, they convened virtually, not in person. This is no time to be seen boarding a private jet.Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnistGuardian Newsroom: Can Labour come back from the brink?On Thursday 30 April, join Gaby Hinsliff, Zoe Williams, Polly Toynbee and Rafael Behr as they discuss how much of a threat Labour faces from the Green party and Reform UK – and whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader. Book tickets hereDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Several vessels, including French container ship, pass through strait of Hormuz
Reports say CMA CGM vessel and three tankers linked to Oman have exited the Gulf despite the ongoing blockadeSeveral ships have now passed through the strait of Hormuz, according to reports, as shipping companies and international leaders scramble to get vital cargo through the waterway.A container ship owned by the French shipping company CMA CGM had sailed out of the Gulf, the Financial Times reported, citing the tracking data analyst MarineTraffic. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump threatens to destroy Iranian infrastructure, saying its government 'knows what has to be done'
The threat comes a day after he said in a nationwide address that the U.S. military will be hitting Tehran "extremely hard" for the next two or three weeks.
theguardian.com
‘Linen is meaningful in Belfast’: how an old industry is weaving the city a new identity
Fabric that once defined Northern Ireland’s capital is at heart of its stylish revival, embraced by designers, royalty and heritage farmers alikeOn a cobbled street in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, next door to a hipster coffee shop and opposite an ice-cream parlour that has a near-constant queue since going viral on TikTok, the elegant Kindred of Ireland boutique is doing a surprisingly brisk trade in artfully oversized butter yellow linen blouses and exquisite Donegal mulberry tweed jackets finished with a length of rose pink linen tied in a bow at the nape of the neck.Half a century after the Troubles, Belfast is finding a new identity through an industry that once defined it. Linen – the fibre that built its wealth and earned it the name Linenopolis – is being woven into a story of renewal. Almost a century after the postwar collapse of an industry that, at its peak, employed 40% of the working population of Northern Ireland, linen is returning as a marker of identity. Continue reading...
bbc.com
No jet fuel shortage for '4 to 6 weeks' - airline
No shortage but Aurigny is spending 120% more on fuel than it was prior to the war, its boss says.
theguardian.com
Northern Ireland leads surge in fuel prices since start of Iran war
Petrol has risen 19% and diesel 35%, while in England the north has had the sharpest increasesFuel prices have risen faster in Northern Ireland than in any other UK region since the beginning of the Iran war.Analysis of official data shows petrol has jumped by 19% in Northern Ireland since the end of February, and diesel is now 35% more expensive. The rises are among the largest in Europe. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What’s the biggest challenge facing the Easter Bunny this year? | Fiona Katauskas
Despite Donald Trump’s demands, he won’t be pouring oil on troubled watersSee more of Fiona Katauskas’s cartoons here Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, more than expected; unemployment at 4.3%
Nonfarm payrolls were expected to increase by 59,000 in March, with the unemployment rate holding at 4.4%.
bbc.com
US jobs surge unexpectedly in March despite Iran war
Employers added 178,000 jobs, far more than had expected, the Labor Department says.
theguardian.com
UK’s leading AI research institute told to make ‘significant’ changes
Alan Turing Institute told by funder to offer better strategy and more value for money after board was reminded of legal duties by watchdogThe UK’s leading AI research institute has been told to make “significant” changes by its main source of taxpayer funding.The Guardian revealed last week that the board of the Alan Turing Institute was reminded of its legal duties by the charity watchdog after a whistleblower complaint. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
LA drivers get creative as surging gas prices threatens love affair with the car
Shop around, coast downhill, band together – drivers tell of how they’re dealing with the costliest gas in the USJack Nooney has pretty much made peace with the traffic since moving to Los Angeles five years ago, but recent soaring gas prices have certainly added another layer of insult to his daily commute. The musician and full-time grocery deli employee drives from his San Fernando Valley apartment to Santa Monica daily. While it’s just nine miles each way, with LA traffic that often equates to a whole gas-burning hour.Nooney, who makes $20/hour, says it’s become glaringly clear that fuel costs will eat up more of his already tight budget. Angelenos are now paying on average nearly $5.90 a gallon – and some stations are charging a shocking $8 a gallon. The outsized prices are directly related to the Iran war, which has created the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, according to the International Energy Agency. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Young people ‘more likely to leave for health reasons when in low-paid, insecure jobs’
Research for TUC analyses link between job quality and economic inactivity, as UK youth unemployment risesYoung people in the UK are more likely to leave their job for health reasons and become economically inactive when they work in insecure, low-paid sectors, a study has found.Research carried out for the Trades Union Congress by the consultancy Timewise charts a connection between the jobs young people are most likely to do – in hospitality, retail and care, for example – and the proportion of people leaving because of ill health. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
US jobs market surpassed expectations in March but February losses were worse than first reported
Employers added 178,000 new jobs in March and unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, ahead of economists’ predictionsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe US labor market picked up in March as employers showed signs of resilience amid the US-Israel war in Iran.After an extraordinary contraction in February, employers added 178,000 jobs last month, ahead of economists’ expectations of about 70,000. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump tariff fallout: Some industries grapple with lingering effects one year later
A year after his "liberation day," Trump's trade war has reshaped how companies in industries such as retail and autos are modeling economic and policy risk.
theguardian.com
‘If they pollute our rivers, what will become of us?’: the town divided between hope and fear in Brazil’s Amazon oil rush
As a state-controlled company explores for oil in the fragile Equatorial Margin the government struggles to balance its ecological promises with fossil fuel expansion. In Oiapoque, the stakes could not be higherCovering a densely forested area larger than Wales, the municipality and city of Oiapoque, in the state of Amapá, is an isolated yet renowned part of Brazil, thanks to a popular national saying. “From Oiapoque to Chuí” highlights the country’s northernmost and southernmost points, respectively, illustrating its vastness.Although well known, it is a remote area with about 30,000 inhabitants where less than 2% of the houses have access to proper sewage treatment. One-third of its residents are Indigenous people from four ethnic groups living in 68 hamlets across three Indigenous lands, 66 of which have electricity for less than 12 hours a day. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How sheltered really is the US from the Gulf oil supply crisis?
As Trump suggests Middle East oil disruption is not his problem, experts say talk of US ‘energy independence’ is a smokescreen – with consumers paying the priceA month has passed since the US and Israel’s war on Iran all but closed the strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies typically flow. Prices have surged, amid fears of sustained disruption to global supplies.Donald Trump argues this is not his country’s problem. “Go get your own oil!” the president urged countries, including the UK, earlier this week. The US has “plenty”, he added. The US is “totally independent” of the Middle East, the president claimed in a prime-time address on Wednesday. “We don’t need their oil.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
US senators rebuke Ticketmaster for raising fees after hidden charge crackdown: ‘Bait and switch’
Richard Blumenthal says company acts like it has ‘get-out-of-jail-free card’ as records show it upping fees to cut lossesTicketmaster quietly raised other fees after US crackdown on hidden chargesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailSenators slammed Ticketmaster for raising ticket fees following a regulatory crackdown on hidden charges as revealed in a report by the Guardian last week.The Federal Trade Commission last May began requiring Ticketmaster to disclose concert ticket fees upfront – a practice known as all-in pricing. The company eliminated the order processing fee it charged at the the end of a transaction to comply with the rule. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Time for some hard truths from a tech bro: the Stephen Collins cartoon
Continue reading...
theguardian.com
M&S calls for crackdown on ‘brazen, organised, aggressive’ retail crime
Bosses write to home secretary and London mayor listing series of incidents staff have faced in past week Marks & Spencer has called on the government and London’s mayor to crack down on retail crime, saying it has become “more brazen, more organised and more aggressive”, after reporting an increase in shoplifting and violence at its stores.The M&S chief executive, Stuart Machin, has written to the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and its retail director, Thinus Keeve, has written to the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, saying greater resources are needed for police to tackle the crime effectively and target repeat offenders and crime hotspots. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Of course we shouldn’t drill for more oil in the North Sea – we cancelled further exploitation for a reason | Bill McGuire
We are at a critical point in the climate emergency and already struggling to meet emissions reduction targets. The UK government must hold its nerveWhile the UK is only marginally involved in the war in the Middle East in military terms, the ramifications for this country are still potentially huge. And nowhere more so than in the energy sector. It isn’t a surprise, then, that commentary has focused on the impact potential policy interventions might have on the cost of energy to UK homes and businesses, and on whether the decisions the government takes will make the nation more – or less – energy-secure.The usual suspects in Reform and the Tory party have used the war as an excuse to renew demands that the North Sea be sucked dry of its remaining oil and gas, in order – they say – to end reliance on fossil fuel imports and to guarantee energy security. More sensible heads have argued that the North Sea basin is a field that is way past peak production, and that has only limited amounts of oil and gas left, and that energy security can only be reached if we move further and faster on renewables. Extraordinarily, the real reason no further significant exploitation of North Sea oil and gas is planned seems to have been entirely forgotten, or at least set aside.Bill McGuire is professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at UCL. His next book – The Fate of the World: a History and Future of the Climate Crisis – is published in May Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Labour challenges Farage over cost of private jet trip to Maldives
Anna Turley questions revised £25,000 figure for failed attempt to reach Chagos Islands on jet linked to billionaireLabour has queried Nigel Farage’s claim that a return trip to the Maldives on a private jet linked to a billionaire donor cost as little as £25,000 as the Reform leader attempted to reach the Chagos Islands.Farage initially recorded his two-day trip to the Maldives as costing £12,500 funded by Thailand-based Reform megadonor Christopher Harborne, before upgrading this to £25,000 in the latest register of interests. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Asia-Pacific markets mostly rise in Easter trade on hopes for Hormuz reopening
South Korea's Kospi led gains in the region while Japan's Nikkei 225 also opened higher. The Australian and Hong Kong markets were closed for the Easter weekend.
theguardian.com
Traditional farmhouses for sale in England – in pictures
From a 300-year old building in the heart of ‘cheddar cheese and cider’ country, to a newly renovated smallholding in an area of outstanding natural beauty Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Japan's Sakura Internet jumps 20% as Microsoft plans $10 billion AI push with SoftBank
Microsoft said it plans to invest $10 billion in Japan between 2026 and 2029 to build AI infrastructure.
cnbc.com
Chinese chip firms hit record high revenue driven by the AI boom and U.S. curbs
Chinese chip companies have benefited from strong domestic demand for AI as U.S. tech curbs have bolstered local firms.
theguardian.com
Stop brunch! How a rustic Catalan meal is taking the fight to bland food and overtourism | Abbas Asaria
As Barcelona groans under a surfeit of generic cafes, a grassroots movement is reviving the traditional ‘fork breakfast’. Anyone for pigs’ trotters?There are many worse ways to start your day than with eggs royale. The contrast in textures between a soft poached egg and a coarse, toasted English muffin is a thing of beauty, and the combination of smoked salmon and a lemony hollandaise sauce ties it together perfectly. The term “brunch” was coined in an essay in Hunter’s Weekly in 1895, and while you’re unlikely to find too many fans in foodie circles, or among those who have to work the shift (“nothing demoralises an aspiring Escoffier faster”, wrote Anthony Bourdain), they aren’t lacking in number. It clearly has its place. The problem is the place it currently occupies: in our gentrifying cities, brunch has acquired a symbolism that goes far beyond the food itself.After the quieter winter months, Barcelona is one of many European cities gearing up for another holiday season of heightened tensions around tourism. Feeling increasingly embattled amid soaring rents and an overcrowded, blandified city centre, Barcelona residents have made their voices heard through increasingly voluble protests. Beyond the general “Tourist, go home!” slogan, you’ll see specific pain points addressed via placards, chants and graffiti across the Catalan capital: specifically, “Ban Airbnb”, and perhaps more surprisingly, “Stop brunch!” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
A day in the life of Asia’s fuel crisis
From farms in New Zealand to factories in Delhi, the effects of the oil crisis triggered by the Iran war are rippling across Asia Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Tiger Woods called Trump after DUI crash, he told cop on bodycam video
President Trump called Tiger Woods a close friend after the golfer's auto crash in Jupiter, Fla., last week. Woods is dating the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.
cnbc.com
Microsoft executive touts Copilot sales traction as AI anxiety weighs on stock
Analysts have said adoption of the $30-per-month Microsoft 365 Copilot is in the early stage.
bbc.com
'I ended up paying £500': Your subscription trap stories
Many readers have experienced the ordeal of cancelling a subscription.
bbc.com
Oil prices jump and shares drop after Trump threatens more Iran strikes
The US president said he'll bring Iran "back to the Stone Age" but gave no detail on ending the war.
bbc.com
Pharmaceuticals face 100% tariffs in US - unless firms strike a deal
The order does not affect generic medicines, the most commonly used in the US.
cnbc.com
Coinbase clears key regulatory hurdle in bid to bolster its stablecoin business
Coinbase has received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to operate as a trust bank, the company said Thursday.
cnbc.com
Trump administration sets up to 100% tariffs on some imported drugs, with many companies exempt
The Trump administration is preparing to impose new tariffs on drugmakers that have not struck deals with the president to lower their U.S. drug prices.
cnbc.com
One year on from Trump's 'liberation day,' global investors are rethinking American exceptionalism
U.S. exceptionalism is "no longer automatic" among global investors, one market watcher told CNBC.
cnbc.com
Brent oil spot price for actual cargo soars to $141, highest level since 2008 financial crisis
The Brent oil futures price is giving the market a false sense of security, said Amrita Sen, founder of Energy Aspects.
cnbc.com
Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi
President Trump was said to be unhappy with Pam Bondi's handling of DOJ files about Jeffrey Epstein and the DOJ's failure to prosecute his political enemies.
cnbc.com
Tesla's stock suffers steepest drop of 2026 on disappointing deliveries report
Tesla is coming off a year of declining deliveries due in part to increased competition from rivals in China offering lower-cost models.
cnbc.com
Blue Owl caps private credit funds redemptions at 5% after steep request levels
Blue Owl attributed the higher-than-usual requests to "heightened market concerns around AI-related disruption to software companies."
cnbc.com
Trump's Iran war speech paints a grim picture for oil markets with more than 600 million barrels at risk
Oil prices are surging as the market prepares for a longer U.S. war with Iran after President Donald Trump's national address.
cnbc.com
Amazon to add 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for sellers as Iran war drives up energy prices
With the Iran war now in its fifth week, Amazon said it's adding a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for third-party sellers in the U.S. and Canada.
cnbc.com
U.S. oil prices soar 11% as Trump's Iran war speech stokes fears of further escalation
Oil surged as Trump in his address to the nation on Iran war said that he expected the conflict to last another two to three weeks.
cnbc.com
Iran and Oman drafting protocol to 'monitor' Hormuz Strait traffic: IRNA
The Strait of Hormuz, the vital artery for global oil transit, has been effectively closed since the Iran war started in late February.
theguardian.com
Trump’s surreal speech on Iran shed no light on his goals | Kenneth Roth
The US president couldn’t give a single coherent reason for why this aggressive war of choice must still be prosecutedDonald Trump’s self-congratulatory speech on Iran on Wednesday night was as puzzling as it was divorced from reality. I had hoped he would declare victory and end the war. Some feared he might provide cover for a ground invasion. Instead, he told us in essence to be patient, that he is almost done, but he was utterly unclear about what more there is to accomplish.If there was ever a purpose to the war, it was to curtail Iran’s capacity to develop a nuclear weapon. Trump harped on that goal repeatedly in his speech, noting that he had long vowed that he “would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon”. But he didn’t mention that Iran has long agreed to eschew a nuclear weapon. If that is the only goal, this entire war has been pointless. Continue reading...
bbc.com
JLR sees sales recover after cyber attack
Work at plants in Solihull, Halewood and outside Wolverhampton restarted in October.
bbc.com
National Minimum Wage rises this week
Around 2.7 million people are set to receive a pay rise this week as the national minimum wage goes up by 50p to £12.71 for over 21s.
bbc.com
New laws to make it easier to cancel subscriptions
A crackdown on "subscription traps" could save the average person nearly £170 a year, according to the Department for Business and Trade.
bbc.com
What is the triple lock and how much is the state pension worth?
The triple lock guarantees that the state pension is not overtaken by inflation or wage increases.
cnbc.com
Analysis: Trump's Iran speech ignores the risks of a return to the 1970s
Oil shocks crippled past presidencies. The Iran war is putting Trump into the danger zone.
theguardian.com
Lucky few Americans whose student debt was forgiven: ‘I hit the lottery’
Only a small fraction of about 43 million have had their debt cancelled, the relief for those who have is transformativeOf the roughly 43 million Americans carrying student loan debt – totaling nearly $1.7tn – only a small fraction have seen their balances erased. For those who have, the relief has been transformative, with several telling the Guardian how the forgiveness has reshaped financial futures and opened doors to new careers, stability and long-delayed life plans.“My loan was forgiven at the end of 2025 through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program,” said Laura Kluss, a 41-year-old clinical social worker based in Sacramento, California. “It was in the six figures at the time of forgiveness. Interest rates were making it extremely difficult to pay it down. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Novo Nordisk says Wegovy pill outperforms Lilly’s oral GLP-1 in cross-trial comparison
Novo and Eli Lilly are both trying to shape the narrative of their rival pills, considered to be the start of the next phase of the weight-loss drug era.
cnbc.com
Trump’s Iran timeline may not be short enough to avoid oil demand destruction
Oil prices surged by more than 60% in March as the U.S.-Iran war raged on.
theguardian.com
‘If he’d stayed on the golf course, we’d be in a better place’: experts on Trump’s tariffs, one year on
Last April, the president unleashed a tidal wave of tariffs on ‘liberation day’. Analysts say the policy has failed, even by the Trump administration’s own termsBefore Donald Trump declared “liberation day” on 2 April 2025 and shocked the world by raising import tariffs on nearly every country the US did business with, he had spent almost three months causing chaos in Washington.The wholesale slashing of government jobs under Doge (the “department of government efficiency”) and the defunding of US aid agencies had shown White House watchers that the US president was in a hurry to upset institutions he considered profligate or useless. Continue reading...
bbc.com
A year on: Four ways Trump's tariffs have changed the global economy
US tariffs stand at the highest rate in decades. But what has the impact been?
bbc.com
New laws to make it easier to cancel subscriptions and get refunds
Consumers will be able to cancel unwanted subscriptions 'at the click of a button', the government said.
bbc.com
Petrol and diesel prices see biggest rise on record in March
The cost of filling a vehicle jumped at the sharpest pace than any other month, the RAC said.
bbc.com
Elon Musk's SpaceX set to be worth $1 trillion with planned public listing
The company’s public stock debut is set to be one of the most valuable in history, and could make Musk the world's first trillionaire.
theguardian.com
Trump’s trade war put the UK on the back foot. His actual war may break us | Larry Elliott
The government looks ill prepared for the coming stagflation storm – its ‘keep calm and carry on’ approach won’t survive a blast of realityBritain is facing the most severe energy shock since the early 1970s, but have no fear: the government has a plan. Details of said plan are still a little sketchy, but will be unveiled in the fullness of time. No need to panic. Keep calm and carry on.It remains to be seen whether the UK is better prepared to cope with the fallout from Donald Trump’s war with Iran than it was with the pandemic six years ago. To be honest, that wouldn’t be difficult. Yet it is not exactly comforting that ministers are sending out a “we have your back” message to the public while at the same time seeking to reassure the financial markets that any help will be limited and targeted.Larry Elliott is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
How Trump, Musk and Doge shattered the US government – podcast
In the end, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge, sort of just … fizzled out. So did Musk save the taxpayer any money? What happened the people who lost their jobs in the mass bureaucratic culling? What services were affected? Will Americans ever trust their government again?Jonathan Freedland speaks to author Sasha Abramsky about his new book, American Carnage: How Trump, Musk, and DOGE Butchered the US Government, and about what lasting legacy of Doge will beArchive: CBS News, ABC News, CNBC, Fox11 Los Angeles, Fox13 Seattle, Bloomberg, Fox News Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘We’re trapped’: developer’s unpaid debt leaves London flat owners unable to sell
Hackney leaseholders feel council made the problem worse by leaving £850,000 debt uncollected for eight yearsLeaseholders in east London have said they are “trapped in unsellable homes” because of an £850,000 debt owed by the building’s developer to Hackney council, who have let it go unpaid for eight years.The 17 leaseholders, who live in a block of flats in Upper Clapton, have appealed to the council for help but their pleas, including requests for a meeting, have been ignored. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Chris Rokos: the camera-shy billionaire behind the biggest UK university donation in modern times
The 55-year-old is one of the most successful hedge fund managers of his generationWhen Chris Rokos decided to donate a record £190m to the University of Cambridge to set up a “school of government” this week, it became the latest mega project carried out in the hedge fund billionaire’s name.The publicity-shy tycoon has spent much of the last decade presiding over one of England’s most expensive home renovations ever, of the 200-room Tottenham House mansion near Marlborough in Wiltshire, adding a tennis pavilion and private cinema in the £175m revamp. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Labour’s mistakes: is it too late to turn things around? – podcast
In part one of a special two-part interview, Kiran Stacey talks to the political scientist Prof Robert Ford about Labour’s so-called ‘landslide win’, the long-lasting impact of Brexit on our politics, and the lessons that should have been learned from the 2024 election. Is it now too late for Starmer to turn things around?Buy Prof Robert Ford’s latest book, The British General Election of 2024, here Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Iran threatens Nvidia, Apple and other tech giants with attacks
Iran's Revolutionary Guard has warned a number of tech companies with Middle East operations that they'll be considered "legitimate targets."
bbc.com
Minimum wage rises to £12.71 an hour as firms warn of impact
Many businesses have said they will have to pass higher wage costs onto customers.
bbc.com
Warning Iran war 'shock' could push up mortgages for 1.3m homeowners
Higher energy prices could lead to higher borrowing costs for homeowners, the Bank warns.
theguardian.com
Iran war may increase mortgage payments for extra 1.3m households, says Bank of England
Financial policy committee predicts ‘Trumpflation’ rises, as average two-year fixed rate hits 5.84%Business live – latest updatesThe US-Israel war on Iran could end up increasing monthly mortgage payments for more than one million more UK households, the Bank of England has predicted, adding that the conflict had dealt “a substantial negative supply shock” to the world economy.Financial market jitters over the conflict in the Middle East have resulted in banks pulling about 1,500 mortgage products, with many banks raising interest rates on their remaining 7,000 home loan products in recent weeks, the Bank’s financial policy committee (FPC) said. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Topps Tiles to close 23 stores over rising costs
Topps Tiles says eight stores have already closed - with the rest to shut over the next six months.
bbc.com
Oil briefly falls below $100 and shares jump on Trump Iran war pledge
European stock markets opened higher after the US president said the conflict would "end very soon".
bbc.com
Estate agents accuse Rightmove of charging excessive fees
The online listing portal is now being pursued in a class action, launched on behalf of potentially hundreds of estate agents.
bbc.com
Energy bill help would be based on household income, Reeves says
The chancellor tells the BBC it is "too early" to say exactly who would get help but hinted any support would not arrive until the autumn.
theguardian.com
Cost of living: get ready for ‘awful April’ bill increases
From council tax to water, broadband to stamps, the annual round of price rises starts on 1 April … and that’s before any fallout from Iran warUK savers told to act now before Easter Sunday cash Isa deadlineBritons will typically see more than £200 added to their household bills this year as “awful April” price increases kick in.The annual rises are particularly unwelcome as the financial turmoil caused by the Middle East conflict has pushed up mortgage rates, fuel prices and energy bills for rural households. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Thousands lose their jobs in deep cuts at tech giant Oracle
It is thought that thousands of people may have lost their jobs at Oracle, one of the world's largest tech companies.
bbc.com
IndiGo names former British Airways chief Willie Walsh as CEO
The announcement comes days after former CEO Pieter Elbers quit in the backdrop of a flight cancellation crisis.
bbc.com
From water to council tax: How the bill rises (and one drop) affect you
A string of bill increases have taken effect but minimum wage and benefit rises will help some to pay them.
bbc.com
Asia's migrant workers debate if Gulf jobs are worth deadly risk of Iran war
Iran's strikes on Gulf states have been especially hard for migrants who have long supported these economies to lift their families back home from poverty.
bbc.com
Oil nears highest price since start of Iran war
The US-Israel Iran war has halted almost all traffic in a key waterway and the price Brent crude has surged.
bbc.com
US petrol price tops $4 for first time since 2022
The Iran war continues to push up prices at the pump for US motorists.
bbc.com
'I sent eight letters': Drivers hope for payout from car finance redress scheme
Millions of motorists could be entitled to compensation with the financial regulator setting out how to apply
bbc.com
How will car finance compensation payments work?
Millions could be entitled to compensation as a result of commission arrangements between lenders and dealers.
bbc.com
Housing market to soften amid Iran war fallout, Nationwide says
The lender says the market regained momentum in March, but rising mortgage and energy costs could hit consumer confidence.
bbc.com
Are domes and spheres the future of entertainment?
Rivals are emerging for the Las Vegas Sphere - are domes and spheres the future for entertainment?
cnbc.com
Quantum technology firms race to market as the industry sees ‘inflection point’
Quantum technology firms are braving turbulent markets to publicly list this year, as the nascent industry looks towards commercialization.
bbc.com
Why Chinese tech companies are racing to set up in Hong Kong
Mainland firms are using the territory to test products and as a springboard for global expansion.
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
'Affordability is the biggest thing' - Conservatives mixed on economy under Trump
Conservatives gathered at the annual CPAC conference in Texas were mixed when asked about their feelings on the current economy.
bbc.com
The spiky cactus fruit giving Indian farmers a cash boost
Indian farmers are turning to dragon fruit as a profitable alternative to mangoes and coffee.
bbc.com
Who knew Lord Sugar is a table tennis fan?
The Apprentice candidates try to sell a table tennis set live on TV.
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
The homeless teenager who became a successful advertising boss
Greg Daily has swapped sleeping on friends' sofas for running a popular digital marketing company.
bbc.com
Would you build your own apps?
Start-ups are offering tech for novices to create apps with the help of AI.
bbc.com
US weight-loss drugmakers slash prices in fight to win customers
Weight-loss drug prices are falling in the US - but can the example be repeated?
bbc.com
Germany has a shortage of workers - so it's turning to India for help
The European nation, struggling to find skilled staff, is giving jobs to young people from India.
bbc.com
'Club vibes without the hangover': The twenty-somethings going out - in the gym
Young people are driving a gym boom as more fitness spaces are transformed into vibrant hangouts.
bbc.com
Home working, long leases and rise of parking apps - what went wrong for NCP
How could a company that charged as much as £65 for a day's parking fail to turn a profit?
bbc.com
Colombia's budding tech scene needs a cash boost
Colombia has become a tech hub for Latin America, but attracting investors is a challenge.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
bbc.com
How Finnish supermarkets are central to the country's defence
The chains all have detailed plans to follow in the event of the nation going to war.
bbc.com
Is it possible to build a plastic-free home?
Using plastic in construction is cheap and easy, but some are trying to radically cut back its use.
bbc.com
Ukraine's urgent fight on the financial frontline
The war-torn country is battling to secure crucial funding from the IMF and EU, as well as putting up taxes.
bbc.com
Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin?
The US said easing sanctions on Russian oil would provide only a limited financial boost to Putin.
bbc.com
Can plastic-eating fungi help clean up nappy waste?
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
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